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Fresh from the London's "Financial Times." It appears that the French have taken the lead. Since they hold the EU presidency it is no surprise. Allons-enfants de la patrie . . . 
Medvedev agrees to peace plan after talks
By Charles Clover and Roman Olearchyk in Tbilisi; Catherine Belton and Isabel Gorst in Moscow; and Harvey Morris at the United Nations
Russia’s president Dmitri Medvedev said on Tuesday he had reached agreement with Nicolas Sarkozy, the French leader, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency, on a six-point plan for resolution of the violent conflict between Russia and Georgia over the breakaway Georgian republic of South Ossetia.
Russia demanded a start to international negotiations on the future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia another separatist region which claimed independence from Georgia after a civil war in the early 1990’s.
The plan also called on both Russia and Georgia to refrain from the use of force and discontinue military action. Both Georgia and Russian troops are required to return to positions held before the outbreak of the conflict and allow free access for humanitarian aid to victims.
Medvedev said, ”I think these are good principles to settle the problem, to end this dramatic situation.”
However, Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgia’s president, presented a defiant front, telling tens of thousands of his countrymen gathered at a rally in the capital, Tbilisi on Tuesday, that Russia ‘would pay’ for its actions.
Russians can’t turn Georgia “into another Grozny,” Mr Saakashvili told an estimated 150,000 protesters crowding outside the country’s parliament. He said Georgia would quit the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a Moscow-led group of former-Soviet countries.
”We are leaving the CIS for good and propose that other countries leave this body run by Russia,” Mr Saakashvili told supporters.
Earlier Mr Medvedev declared a ceasefire to operations in its southern neighbour.
The Russian foreign ministry accused Georgia of propaganda over its claims that Russian jets were bombing Georgian villages beyond South Ossetia despite Mr Medvedev’s ceasefire declaration.
Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, called for Mr Saakashvili to quit accusing him of ”criminal acts against his people”.
“Our position is that Mr Saakashvili cannot be our partner, and the best thing would be if he left office...I don’t think Russia will be in a mood to conduct negotiations or even to talk with Mikheil Saakashvili”.
Earlier, announcing the ceasefire Mr Medvedev said “They have taken the decision to end the operation to force the Georgian authorities into peace” Mr Medvedev said during a meeting with his defence minister and army chief of staff. “The aim of our operation has been reached, the safety of our peace keepers and the civilian population has been restored...the aggressor has been punished”.
On Monday night US president George W. Bush accused Russia of invading Georgia and said Moscow appeared to be mounting an effort to overthrow the “duly elected government” in Tbilisi.
The sharply tougher tone from Washington came after Russia defied mounting international pressure and opened a new front in its five-day-old war with Georgia on Monday, sending tanks and troops deeper into the territory of its southern neighbour.
“Russia has invaded a sovereign neighbouring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century,” Mr Bush said.
He demanded that Moscow accept a peace agreement being brokered by the European Union, saying its actions “jeopardise Russia’s relations with the United States and Europe”.
Mr Bush said he was concerned by reports that Russian troops had moved beyond the conflict zone, were attacking the town of Gori and threatening Tbilisi. “There’s evidence that Russian forces may soon begin bombing the civilian airport in the capital city,” he said.
Russia did confirm it had seized a Georgian military base in Senaki in the west of the country, advancing from Abkhazia. But the defence ministry in Moscow said Russian troops left late on Monday night, having “liquidated the danger of fire on South Ossetia...from the town”.
It also said a reconnaissance group had briefly been on the outskirts of Poti, but denied a Georgian report that its troops had entered the Black Sea port.
Speaking before Mr Bush’s statement, Vladimir Putin, Russian prime minister, lashed out at the US for airlifting Georgian troops to the conflict from Iraq. “It is a shame that some of our partners are not helping us, and are trying to interfere,” he said.
Reporting by Roman Olearchyk and Charles Clover in Tbilisi; Catherine Belton and Isabel Gorst in Moscow; and Harvey Morris at the United Nations
Medvedev agrees to peace plan after talks
By Charles Clover and Roman Olearchyk in Tbilisi; Catherine Belton and Isabel Gorst in Moscow; and Harvey Morris at the United Nations
Russia’s president Dmitri Medvedev said on Tuesday he had reached agreement with Nicolas Sarkozy, the French leader, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency, on a six-point plan for resolution of the violent conflict between Russia and Georgia over the breakaway Georgian republic of South Ossetia.
Russia demanded a start to international negotiations on the future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia another separatist region which claimed independence from Georgia after a civil war in the early 1990’s.
The plan also called on both Russia and Georgia to refrain from the use of force and discontinue military action. Both Georgia and Russian troops are required to return to positions held before the outbreak of the conflict and allow free access for humanitarian aid to victims.
Medvedev said, ”I think these are good principles to settle the problem, to end this dramatic situation.”
However, Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgia’s president, presented a defiant front, telling tens of thousands of his countrymen gathered at a rally in the capital, Tbilisi on Tuesday, that Russia ‘would pay’ for its actions.
Russians can’t turn Georgia “into another Grozny,” Mr Saakashvili told an estimated 150,000 protesters crowding outside the country’s parliament. He said Georgia would quit the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a Moscow-led group of former-Soviet countries.
”We are leaving the CIS for good and propose that other countries leave this body run by Russia,” Mr Saakashvili told supporters.
Earlier Mr Medvedev declared a ceasefire to operations in its southern neighbour.
The Russian foreign ministry accused Georgia of propaganda over its claims that Russian jets were bombing Georgian villages beyond South Ossetia despite Mr Medvedev’s ceasefire declaration.
Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, called for Mr Saakashvili to quit accusing him of ”criminal acts against his people”.
“Our position is that Mr Saakashvili cannot be our partner, and the best thing would be if he left office...I don’t think Russia will be in a mood to conduct negotiations or even to talk with Mikheil Saakashvili”.
Earlier, announcing the ceasefire Mr Medvedev said “They have taken the decision to end the operation to force the Georgian authorities into peace” Mr Medvedev said during a meeting with his defence minister and army chief of staff. “The aim of our operation has been reached, the safety of our peace keepers and the civilian population has been restored...the aggressor has been punished”.
On Monday night US president George W. Bush accused Russia of invading Georgia and said Moscow appeared to be mounting an effort to overthrow the “duly elected government” in Tbilisi.
The sharply tougher tone from Washington came after Russia defied mounting international pressure and opened a new front in its five-day-old war with Georgia on Monday, sending tanks and troops deeper into the territory of its southern neighbour.
“Russia has invaded a sovereign neighbouring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century,” Mr Bush said.
He demanded that Moscow accept a peace agreement being brokered by the European Union, saying its actions “jeopardise Russia’s relations with the United States and Europe”.
Mr Bush said he was concerned by reports that Russian troops had moved beyond the conflict zone, were attacking the town of Gori and threatening Tbilisi. “There’s evidence that Russian forces may soon begin bombing the civilian airport in the capital city,” he said.
Russia did confirm it had seized a Georgian military base in Senaki in the west of the country, advancing from Abkhazia. But the defence ministry in Moscow said Russian troops left late on Monday night, having “liquidated the danger of fire on South Ossetia...from the town”.
It also said a reconnaissance group had briefly been on the outskirts of Poti, but denied a Georgian report that its troops had entered the Black Sea port.
Speaking before Mr Bush’s statement, Vladimir Putin, Russian prime minister, lashed out at the US for airlifting Georgian troops to the conflict from Iraq. “It is a shame that some of our partners are not helping us, and are trying to interfere,” he said.
Reporting by Roman Olearchyk and Charles Clover in Tbilisi; Catherine Belton and Isabel Gorst in Moscow; and Harvey Morris at the United Nations
